KOTRA
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), founded in 1962 under the Korean government, provides free trade and investment promotion services to Korean SMEs and foreign investors through a global network of overseas trade offices and digital platforms including TRIBIG, Dream, and Invest KOREA.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What KOTRA does
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency / 대한무역투자진흥공사) is a quasi-governmental public institution (공공기관) founded in 1962 and wholly owned by the Government of the Republic of Korea. It is mandated to promote Korean exports, attract foreign direct investment into Korea, support Korean companies' overseas investment, and recruit global talent for Korean firms. Services are delivered free of charge to Korean companies and foreign investors through a network of overseas trade offices (해외무역관), regional support headquarters across Korea, and a hotline/chat infrastructure centered on 1600-7119.
Its core product surface is a multi-platform ecosystem anchored by the Trade Investment 24 portal (kotra.or.kr). Specialized platforms include Dream (overseas market intelligence), TRIBIG (big-data analytics with HS-code-level promising market analysis and ML-based export sustainability signals), GEP (exhibition information), buyKOREA (B2B e-commerce), Invest KOREA (foreign investment attraction), Global Talent Center, and Export Voucher. AI-enabled offerings include the AI Globby curation chatbot (2026), the AI Export Information Service (generative AI, in pilot since 2024), and KakaoTalk-based conversational services.
KOTRA's revenue model is government appropriations rather than commercial billing; core consulting, market research, buyer matching, trade missions, certification support, and dispute mediation are provided at no cost to eligible Korean SMEs and to foreign investors. GTM combines enterprise field sales through overseas and regional offices, inside sales via the hotline and online consultation, and event-driven acquisition through exhibitions and trade missions. Customer segments span Korean SMEs and mid-market exporters, foreign investors entering Korea, Korean companies pursuing outbound investment, and foreign-invested firms in Korea seeking workforce solutions.
KOTRA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KOTRA
- Legal name
- 대한무역투자진흥공사
- Website
- https://kotra.or.kr
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), founded in 1962 under the Korean government, provides free trade and investment promotion services to Korean SMEs and foreign investors through a global network of overseas trade offices and digital platforms including TRIBIG, Dream, and Invest KOREA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where KOTRA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices6 records
Markets served
KOTRA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Government Services: KOTRA is a public institution providing trade and investment promotion services primarily funded by government budgets. Services are provided free of charge to Korean companies seeking export support, foreign investment attraction, and overseas business expansion assistance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free services for Korean companies |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
KOTRA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KOTRA is Korea's national trade and investment promotion agency that provides free consulting, market research, buyer matching, and exhibition support to Korean SMEs seeking to expand overseas. The agency also attracts foreign direct investment into Korea through Invest Korea, operates multiple digital platforms including TriBig big data analytics and the AI Globee recommendation chatbot, and runs a global network of overseas trade offices providing on-ground market intelligence.
Product overview
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency / 대한무역투자진흥공사) operates a multi-platform ecosystem for trade and investment promotion rather than a single product. The core portal is Trade Investment 24 (무역투자24), which serves as the main gateway to services. This connects to specialized platforms: Dream (해외경제정보) for overseas market intelligence, TriBig (트라이빅) for big data analytics and trade statistics, GEP for exhibition information, buyKOREA for B2B e-commerce, Invest KOREA for foreign investment attraction, Global Talent Center for international recruitment, and Export Voucher for SME subsidies. AI-powered services include Globee (AI 글로비) for personalized recommendations and the AI Export Information Service for generative AI-powered queries. Supporting services include K-Move for overseas employment, KODITS for defense trade, Moving KOTRA for on-site consulting, the Ombudsman service for foreign companies, and the Global Capability Diagnosis (GCL) tool.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- buyKOREA: B2B/ecommerce platform for Korean products
- Invest KOREA
- TriBig (트라이빅)
- GEP (Global Exhibition Platform)
- K-Move
- Global Talent Center
- AI Goblebi (AI 글로비)
Products and services
- Trade Investment 24 (무역투자24) KOTRA's main web portal providing comprehensive trade and investment promotion services including overseas market information, consultation, business applications, and organizational information for Korean exporters and foreign investors.
- Dream - Overseas Economic Information Platform Integrated overseas market information platform providing news, country information, market strategies, reports, and big data analytics for Korean exporters.
- TriBig - KOTRA Trade Investment Big Data Platform Big data analytics platform offering trade statistics, country market information, product promising market analysis, overseas buyer information, and AI-powered export prediction services including the Buyer Tracking Service and Export Sustainability Signals.
- GEP - Global Exhibition Platform Portal providing information on overseas exhibitions and trade events, enabling Korean companies to discover and participate in international trade shows.
- buyKOREA B2B e-commerce platform helping Korean exporters showcase products to international buyers, facilitating cross-border trade connections.
- Invest KOREA Foreign investment promotion platform providing information for international investors on Korean market opportunities, industries, and investment procedures, including Invest Korea Plaza (IKP) services.
- Global Talent Center Platform connecting Korean companies with international talent, supporting foreign professional recruitment into Korean enterprises.
- Export Voucher Subsidy program providing financial support for small and medium enterprises to use KOTRA's trade promotion services including market research and exhibition participation.
- K-Move Overseas employment support program helping Korean nationals find jobs abroad, with legal consultation and settlement support services.
- KODITS - Defense Material Trading Support Support platform for defense industry trade, assisting Korean defense companies with international business development.
- AI Globee (AI 글로비) AI-powered personalized recommendation service within the curation platform, answering user questions about overseas markets and recommending relevant information and support programs.
- Global Capability Diagnosis (GCL) Diagnostic tool evaluating companies' global business capabilities to recommend appropriate KOTRA support programs and identify improvement areas.
- Moving KOTRA (이동KOTRA) Mobile consultation service where KOTRA export specialists visit companies to provide free one-on-one customized consulting for export and preparation challenges.
- Ombudsman Service (옴부즈만) Complaint handling service for foreign-invested companies in Korea, addressing grievances and operational difficulties faced by international businesses.
- AI Export Information Service (AI 수출정보서비스) Generative AI service providing trade and investment information responses powered by KOTRA's AI platform team. Currently in pilot/beta phase.
Quantifiable outcome
- Free export consulting and support services for Korean companies
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use KOTRA
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KOTRA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
KOTRA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and significant.
- 한국지질자원研究院 (Korea Institute of Geoscience)coreKOTRA and Korea Institute of Geoscience cooperate to secure overseas core minerals for Korean companies, addressing supply chain stability and strategic resource acquisition needs.
- eBay Japan (큐텐)supportingKOTRA-eBay Japan Power Seller Training Program to cultivate Korean sellers on eBay Japan's platform, supporting Korean product exports through e-commerce channels.
- UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)significantKOTRA partners with UNDP for business participation opportunities in Syria, providing Korean companies with access to international development projects and humanitarian aid-related business opportunities.
- DHL, EMSsupportingKOTRA Export Logistics Collaboration Network provides DHL and EMS discount benefits to Korean exporters, facilitating cost-effective logistics solutions for international shipments.
- Invest KoreacoreInvest Korea is KOTRA's foreign investment attraction service operating under the KOTRA umbrella, providing comprehensive support for foreign companies investing in Korea through the Invest Korea Plaza (IKP) facility.
- Global Window PortalsupportingEconomic diplomacy portal supporting Korean companies' global business activities through coordinated government trade and investment promotion efforts.
- BuyKoreasupportingB2B/e-commerce platform for Korean products, helping connect Korean exporters with international buyers through online marketplace services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KOTRA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Enterprise Singapore: Enterprise Singapore supports Singapore companies in internationalization and helps attract investment and develop enterprise capabilities. Its export promotion, market access, and government-backed business-support model closely parallels KOTRA.
- Hong Kong Trade Development Council: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council promotes international trade through market intelligence, exhibitions, buyer matching, and digital commerce platforms. Its global trade-facilitation and B2B matching activities closely resemble KOTRA's buyKorea and event-based export-support ecosystem.
- Invest in Canada: Invest in Canada is a national investment-promotion agency that connects foreign investors with Canadian opportunities and provides market and business-location guidance. It is directly comparable to KOTRA's foreign-investment attraction, counseling, and investor-matching activities.
- Germany Trade and Invest: Germany Trade and Invest provides foreign-market intelligence, export consulting, and investment-location support for Germany. It is comparable to KOTRA as a government-backed trade-promotion and foreign-investment facilitation agency.
- U.S. International Trade Administration: The U.S. International Trade Administration provides trade-promotion, market-intelligence, export-assistance, and foreign-investment-related services. It is comparable to KOTRA in using a global government network to connect companies with overseas opportunities.
- Singapore Economic Development Board: The Singapore Economic Development Board attracts and facilitates foreign direct investment through site selection, incentives, market information, and partner networks. It is directly comparable to KOTRA's Invest Korea services, although KOTRA also has a broader export-promotion remit.
- UK Department for Business and Trade: The UK Department for Business and Trade helps businesses export and attracts foreign direct investment through overseas market expertise and investor support. It operates a mandate and service model materially comparable to KOTRA's export and investment promotion activities.
- Japan External Trade Organization: JETRO is Japan's national trade and investment promotion agency. It is directly comparable to KOTRA in supporting domestic companies' overseas expansion and attracting foreign investment through overseas offices, research, consulting, and business matching.
Broad incumbents
- Export Development Canada: Export Development Canada helps Canadian companies internationalize through trade finance, risk solutions, market expertise, and business connections. It is a broad incumbent comparator for KOTRA's export-support mandate, with a larger emphasis on financial solutions.
Regional players
- CzechTrade: CzechTrade is the Czech Republic's national export-promotion agency, offering market intelligence, consulting, and overseas business matchmaking. It is a smaller regional peer with the same core export-support role as KOTRA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KOTRA social profiles
Digital presenceKOTRA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
KOTRA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KOTRA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
KOTRA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KOTRA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KOTRA
What does KOTRA do?
KOTRA is Korea's national trade and investment promotion agency that provides free consulting, market research, buyer matching, and exhibition support to Korean SMEs seeking to expand overseas. The agency also attracts foreign direct investment into Korea through Invest Korea, operates multiple digital platforms including TriBig big data analytics and the AI Globee recommendation chatbot, and runs a global network of overseas trade offices providing on-ground market intelligence.
Is KOTRA a public or private company?
KOTRA is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was KOTRA founded?
KOTRA was founded in 1962. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is KOTRA based?
KOTRA is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does KOTRA make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Government Services.
Who are KOTRA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Enterprise Singapore, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest in Canada, Germany Trade and Invest, U.S. International Trade Administration, Singapore Economic Development Board, UK Department for Business and Trade and Japan External Trade Organization. Export Development Canada is listed as a broad incumbent. CzechTrade is listed as a regional player.
Does KOTRA have an API?
No public API is recorded for KOTRA.